Software to record expenses and memories
Submitted: Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 09:03
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Christine H
Hi All. We are soon to set off on our first road trip ever and plan to take a year around Oz. I like to keep everything organised on my laptop and wondering if you can recommend some software to keep track of our expenses and budget? :-)
Reply By: Member - The Bushwhackers -NSW - Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 09:42
Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 09:42
Hi Christine
I bought a copy of the program 'Nomads Notes'.
I have had to delay my travelling due to illness, so I haven't used it yet, but it looks like what you are after.
Not sure, but I think I bought it through the
shop on here. I assume you are talking about putting it on a laptop, so make sure you are on that (your laptop) when you download it. You will be sent an email to allow you to activate it.
Have a look, just google Nomads Notes, see what you think
Cheers, Dave
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Follow Up By: Christine H - Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 10:12
Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 10:12
Thanks Dave. Yes I saw that program and I thought it looked very good and comprehensive. I did wonder if it was simple to use or if someone knew of an even better program but the price seems very reasonable.
I hope you are feeling better real soon so that you not only set your sails but start sailing!
Thank you for your response and I wish you all the best.
Christine
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Reply By: jmeloz - Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 09:50
Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 09:50
Hi Christine and good on you for getting out there and seeing this amazing and diverse country that we live in!!
We are in our 8th month out of 12th on the road around Oz. And if i have one word of advice it is .....that it costs twice as much as you think!!! I can't recommend any software but Excel for you to use. I also like to use my laptop for everything, but I really do just find it alot easier to I just keep track of expenses very simply by budgetting what expenses are required month by month on a notepad and then at the end of the month and during use internet banking to see how we are tracking.
Keep in mind you must expect some unexpected expenses, eg new gearbox, transfer case and clutch!! ouch that one hurt!
Enjoy your trip
Julia
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Follow Up By: Christine H - Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 10:08
Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 10:08
Thanks Julia but a bit scarey to think it might cost us twice as much as planned. We have purchaed a used, off-road van with 3 solar panels and 4 batteries and hope to get free accommodation here and there. Do you think my budget looks reasonable?
Maintenance & Repairs $ 6,000
Accommodation $ 8,500
Fuel $ 9,000
Food $ 7,500
Extra Tours / Sundries $ 3,000
Health Insurance $ 3,000
Phones / Storage $ 3,000
$ 40,000
How does this compare with your reality?
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Follow Up By: Member - sassenach.girl (QLD) - Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 17:55
Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 17:55
Hi Christine,
We are off on a trip around Oz for 7 months next year and have budgeted around $750 per week for 2A2C. We will be free-camping around 50% of the time.
I think (from memory) our budget is:
Fuel $8,000
Accommodation $6,500
Food $4,700
Sightseeing/Extras $3,100
Plus we have the added expenses of our mortgage, health insurance, car insurances etc, which is not included in the above.
I have also used Excel to plan our trip, and will use it to track spending as
well. As for all our 'memories', I have created a blog to store stories, notes and photos.
Sass.
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Follow Up By: Christine H - Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 22:28
Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 22:28
Thanks for the info Sass. My budget works out to be $652 per week purely towards our trip and is just for us 2 adults so it looks like we should be all good and if it's a bit tight, we can
free camp more often as we will have the solar and off road capabilities. I hope you have a fantastic trip and again, thanks for the info. :-)
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Follow Up By: didiaust - Tuesday, Aug 02, 2011 at 07:41
Tuesday, Aug 02, 2011 at 07:41
Christine, I noticed health Insurance - can I ask is this a seperate insurance because you are travelling and if so what is it called - is it like international travel insurance but domestic?
Whe have private health cover but now I wonder if we need to take out more if we take off
Di
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Follow Up By: Christine H - Tuesday, Aug 02, 2011 at 08:57
Tuesday, Aug 02, 2011 at 08:57
Hello Di. I was just referring to our private health cover with MBF (I think) and can't really thihnk of anything more we would need as we are covered for hospital and extras.
The cover is quite extensive though because if you are in a remote place and require medical treatment, they apparently pay out for your transport to a hospital and may even pay something towards accommodation but I can't quite remember all the details.
It wouldn't hurt to call your insurer and ask them about what they suggest for people travelling and make sure you have everything such as transport included.
Be safe and well. :-)
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Reply By: Member - Troll 81 (QLD) - Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 11:09
Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 11:09
If you have a iPhone or iPad I can recomend a app called
Home Budget cost around $5 and does everything for us now. When the wife buys something she quickly adds it into the app and it syncs with my phone and the iPad.
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Follow Up By: Christine H - Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 11:37
Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 11:37
That sounds great but I don't have an iPhone or iPad so I guess I'll just have to keep the receipts and enter them as I go although I need another phone anyway so perhaps I should get an iPhone. Great advice. Thank you!
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Follow Up By: snoopyone - Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 11:55
Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 11:55
Dont buy an Iphone for travelling as they are basically a city phone.
My old Nokia 6120 had far better reception and can be bought for $79 now
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Follow Up By: Member - Fred B (NT) - Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 12:03
Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 12:03
Buy a NextG phone so that you will have communication other than in major cities. There are plenty of cheap nextG phones out there if you look around. If you get a "data pack" with your plan, you can use the phone as a modem on your laptop.
regards
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Follow Up By: snoopyone - Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 12:16
Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 12:16
Yep the 6120 is a Next G and I have a inductive aerial car kit for it that I no longer use as well plus the bull bar aerial for it
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Follow Up By: Member Andys Aussie Adventure - Tuesday, Aug 02, 2011 at 06:25
Tuesday, Aug 02, 2011 at 06:25
If you are going to buy a phone then you should get an Isatphone from TC commuications. They are chepper than an Iphone and only 78c Per min, that way you have coverage anywhere. The cost of the phone is $599.00 and can buy per paid credit.
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Reply By: The Landy - Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 12:44
Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 12:44
Hi Christine
Just a note on laptops and computers when travelling... You didn’t indicate the types of roads/tracks you will be travelling on, but make sure you take an external hard-drive for a back-up, as corrugated roads can wreak havoc on electronic devices like laptops!
Enjoy your trip...
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Follow Up By: Christine H - Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 22:37
Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 22:37
Good advice and thanks for your input. I will make sure to back everything up!
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Reply By: Member - Rod N (QLD) - Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 13:07
Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 13:07
G'day Christine, If you are a member go to the Members area on the blue line and select Members File Swap. There are some Excel progs under Checklists and Planners that may suit your purpose.
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Follow Up By: Christine H - Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 18:22
Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 18:22
Thanks Rod. Not a member yet but it sounds like it's good value and worth joining up.
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Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 20:32
Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 20:32
Christine,
My wife uses a program "Microsoft Money" that was on the computer when she first bought it. Think it's quite easy to use, but have no idea of caot, if you had to buy it.
Just before I retired (that only lasted 3 months!!!) I did up a budget using excel, mainly listing major, & regular expenses. That was a valuable tool, to see how much we'd need each year, but didn't include food because we'd always worked on stations, where food was part of the "deal".
Using excel, you can also break up each cost,eg Vehicle servicing, tyres, fuel, to fine tune it if necessary.
Enjoy the trip,
Bob.
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Follow Up By: Witi Repartee - Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 21:09
Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 21:09
Microsoft Money is now discontinued, but it is an excellent budgeting/planning tool.
A free or sunset version is readily available from Microsoft...
read about MS money here.
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Follow Up By: Christine H - Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 22:18
Monday, Aug 01, 2011 at 22:18
Thank you very much for this great info. I'm definitely going to try it and in regards to your retirement ..........
It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.
Muhammad Ali
All the best with making it happen Bob.
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